Optimist Hill

Since 1946 the Optimist Club of Saskatoon has worked to bring out the best in our kids with activities for healthy bodies, minds and communities. OSP Community Development Corp. (Optimist Hill), is a Saskatchewan Registered Non-profit Corporation. As of December 17, 2018, the City of Saskatoon has proclaimed Optimist Hill as a “Designated Municipal Project”.  As such, individuals and companies can receive tax receipts from the City if their donation is directed towards Optimist Hill.

We are committed to an inclusive, accessible, and affordable facility for everyone.  To do so, we need support from people like you!  We’re actively looking for companies and individuals to sponsor Optimist Hill in a variety of areas.

In keeping with our mission to bring out the best in kids, we want to be able to provide safe access to all of the amenities at Optimist Hill, including skiing, snowboarding, tubing and tobogganing.   There is no other place in this community to access these types of outdoor winter activities all in one place!

The Optimist Hill Campaign (OSP Community Development Corp., a non-profit corporation) began in 2013 and is the Optimist Club of Saskatoon’s biggest project to-date.  Phase I, now complete, includes a 70-foot hill with groomed lanes for snow-tubing, skiing and snowboarding, terrain park, enhanced free toboggan hill and 2 conveyor lift systems for an easy commute to the top of the hill.  Phase 2, which we are currently fundraising for, will include raising the balance of the funds we need to build the Conexus Riverview Chalet, where we have a number of naming amenities available. 

Our first season in 2019 was just 28 days long because of the extreme cold, but even so, more than 6,000 people enjoyed Optimist Hill.  In 2020, also cut short because of Covid-19, over 15,000 hit the hill for some great winter activities.  Although these uncontrollable circumstances made it a challenge for the hill to operate to a maximum capacity, our diligence and flexibility have allowed us to create a winter activity that has grown and begun to thrive through very tough times.  With the dedication of our Board, staff, our great volunteers and the community, this park is poised to be a tremendous added amenity for our City.

As a winter recreation area, Optimist Hill’s facilities offer a full range of low-cost outdoor activities for children and adults.  The central location at Diefenbaker Park and affordable lift passes, equipment rentals/ski & snowboard lessons make outside play easy and accessible for everyone in our community.